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In what had been an open secret for months, Edmonton will host the 2013 Brier.

Curling’s premier national event returns to Rexall Place March 2-10.

Oddly, the Edmonton area has hosted a major curling event every odd year since the 2005 Brier — the 2007 World Championship; the 2009 Olympic Trials and the 2011 Continental Cup.

Edmonton has earned its well-deserved reputation as the curling capital of the world based on a solid following of world-class teams this area had produced.

“The fact teams from Edmonton, on the men’s side, have been very successful over the last 10-15 years has had a huge impact on the sport in this area,” said Warren Hansen, director of event operations for the Canadian Curling Association.

“In addition to that, this has always been a strong curling area. It’s part of the culture here. It’s part of the fabric of the community.

“You couple that with having a lot of participants and it’s just the right atmosphere to put it all together.”

Randy Ferbey, six-time Brier champion, Kevin Martin, four time Brier champ and 2010 Olympic gold medallist, and two members of Kevin Koe’s 2010 World Championship team were in attendance at Tuesday’s news conference to lend their support.

Ferbey won the 2005 Brier here, the last in his team’s incredible five-year run. The Ferbey Four has since broken up but the memories remain.

“I’ll go on record and say it’ll probably be an Edmonton team at that Brier,” said Ferbey. “There’s still two great team here. Koe’s still playing competitively. Martin’s still playing competitively. They ain’t getting any weaker than they were a couple of years ago.

“Chances are it’ll be another Edmonton team. They’ll have a ton of support from the fans here.”

Ferbey jokes that he’ll be at that Brier regardless, whether in the stands or on the ice, but he’s leaning more toward the former.

“When I play, I take it serious, but I’m not prepared to do the work you have to do,” Ferbey said. “Will I try to get there? If lighting strikes, you never know. It’s not going to be like in the past, where we’re the favourites, but stranger things have happened.”

Carter Rycroft, a front-end player for Koe’s team, would like nothing better than to play in front of his adopted hometown crowd.

“To be in a home Brier would probably be something special,” said Rycroft, whose team’s title was somewhat overshadowed by Martin’s gold medal. “We’ve done the away thing. To be at home and to do one would be unreal. We won our Brier, we’ve won our world championship. Now, it’s time to do it at home.”

One thing’s for sure. This will be Martin’s last chance to appear at an Edmonton Brier.

Martin has already said he’ll retire after the 2014 Sochi Olympics run.

“It would just be fun,” said Martin, about the missing event on his resume. “Any time you’re in front of the home crowd, it’s fun. For me, it’ll be my last chance because I’ll be done before the next one. It’s my last kick of the cat to get into a home Brier.”

He did qualify for the Olympics here, but points out it’s a different deal.

“The Trials, you could say is similar, but the Brier is different,” said Martin.

“At the Trials, the whole crowd is hoping for the winner to do well at the Olympics. At the Brier, it’s all about your provincial colours.

“They’re loud and they’re proud. It’s more of a party atmosphere in the building and in the Patch.